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Wednesday, October 16, 2019

A Pretty Folly and Strangers at the Gate

A Pretty Folly by Charlie Garratt is the second in a series set just prior to the outbreak of war in 1939.  Although there are a couple of mentions to the previous book's mystery, this one works as a stand-alone.  

Inspector James Givens is Jewish, but doesn't practice, although he is very close to his parents.  Assigned to stop the attack on Jewish businesses in Coventry Givens interviews the victims and searches for the perpetrators.  Then a case closer to his home in Kenilworth divides his attention.

The body of a young woman is discovered in the ancient crypt of a chapel on the grounds of a charity school.  The body has been laid out in a staged manner and the conditions of the crypt preserved the body, but who she is and when and how she died presents problems.

I liked the setting with all the tensions of the period before England enters the war and the traditional style of the writing and investigation.  Givens is an interesting character, and I look forward to more in this series.

NetGalley/Sapere Books
Historical Fiction.  Oct. 7, 2019.  Print length:  268 pages. 


Catriona McPherson's books have consistently chilled and intrigued me.  Strangers at the Gate makes the fifth of her intense mystery/thrillers that I've read.  Each one is a stand-alone, which is unusual for such a prolific writer.  

Strangers at the Gate proves the old axiom "Too good to be true."

Paddy's new job results in a new job for Finn, and the rent free gate house on the boss's estate is an added bonus.  Paddy is enthusiastic, Finn less so, but when opportunity knocks, turning down so many advantages proves too difficult.

Simmerton is located in a valley and the mountains that surround it make sunlight brief; combined with the lack of sunlight, Finn is uncomfortable with the oppressive atmosphere of the surrounding woods.  

Shortly after moving in, Paddy and Finn are invited to have dinner with Paddy's boss and his wife.  The Dudgets, Lovett and Tuft, live in a grand dower house called Widdershins, a short walk through the woods from the gate house.  Finn is reluctant to go, but once there, she has a surprisingly good time.  Tuft is irrepressible and funny, and Finn enjoys the evening.  

As Paddy and Finn are walking home after the dinner, Finn realizes she has forgotten her bag.  The two return to find that in the short time they were gone, Lovett and Tuft are dead.  Finn tells Paddy to call the police, but he persuades her to wait until the return to the gate house where they discuss their shock and horror.  We also discover why Paddy would rather not call the police at all and why Finn finally agrees.

As they wait for the deaths to be discovered by someone else, the strain on Finn and Paddy increases.    

Was it a suicide or murder?  The suspense and twists increase when an email from Lovett to his office was after the time Paddy and Finn found the couple dead.  Finn makes some too rapid assumptions about what has happened and there are a few connections that don't feel coherent, but I was glued to the pages until the end ignoring a few details (or lack thereof) that bothered me.  McPherson is a master of suspense, and I was along for the ride.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Suspense.  Oct. 22, 2020.  Print length:  368 pages.

21 comments:

  1. Both sound good! A Pretty Folly is a good reminder that antisemitism in Europe was not (and still is not) limited only to Germany.

    Strangers at the Gate is making me think of The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz but only because of the gloomy, never in the sun gatehouse I think!

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    1. Oswald Mosley's supporters (British Union of Fascists) had a great deal of influence and many followers who approved of Hitler. Although he only gets a brief mention in A Pretty Folly, the attacks on Jewish business were encouraged by his anti-Semitic propaganda and demonstrations. Too similar to what is happening now.

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  2. Catriona MacPherson is a new author for me, and I am intrigued to find out more about her work.

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    1. Her psychological suspense novels are very good!

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  3. Both books sound good, but I'm more intrigued by the Catriona MacPherson one. Probably because it's not part of a series. Sometimes a standalone book is just what I want to read. :)

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    1. I read The Child Garden by McPherson in 2015, and I've continued to be impressed with her psychological thrillers!

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    2. My library actually has several of her books. Yay! I'm excited to give her a try.

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  4. I'm looking forward to reading Catriona MacPherson's new book. I've seen her at several book conferences and she is so funny and personable. Quite a character with her Scottish accent.

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    1. I'd love to hear her Scottish accent! I'd like to try her Dandy Gilver historical cozy mysteries sometime. It is unusual to be successful in both the cozy and psychological suspense genres. :)

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    2. I think Kay and I were both introduced to McPherson's accent and marvelous sense of humor at Left Coast Crime here in Phoenix in 2016. I tried one of her Dandy Gilver mysteries but it just wasn't my cup of tea for some reason. (I think because it reminded me too much of Golden Age mysteries of which I am not a fan.) But I certainly do enjoy her standalone thrillers!

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    3. It is funny that I am just about to publish a post on The Wrong Girl, which I read about on your blog and get this comment! :)

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  5. Both of these books are new to me. I must say that Catriona McPherson's book does sound like one that I would probably enjoy. I might have to give her a try soon.

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    1. I've certainly been drawn into her suspense novels! She gives life to her characters and makes the reader puzzle over the outcome. ;O

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  6. I've got the first on my Kindle and have requested for the second. I hope I get it, especially after I read you review.
    Thanks for the reviews.

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    1. I hope you enjoy A Pretty Folly--getting a glimpse into pre-war prejudices and a Jewish character who must come to terms (in future books) about his own heritage.

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  7. I agree that both books sound good. And what's better is both read as stand-alones. :)

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    1. We get so involved with series books, that finding an author like McPherson who writes consistently good stand-alones is nice!

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  8. Sorry if this is a repeat comment. It glitched on send. I was saying that I think Stranger at the Gate sounds awesome, and since they are stand-alones I really need to pick up one of her books sometime.

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    1. The Child Garden was the first one of McPherson's books I read, and I've enjoyed several more since then. Good psychological suspense!

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  9. I have enjoyed McPherson before. This new one sounds good! I like the sound of A Pretty Folly too. I am glad you enjoyed them, Jenclair.

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    1. McPherson's stand alones are full of twists and this one is too. :)

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